To Turn, Or Not To Turn?

[Larry Weil]

I have a 2004 Impreza 2.5 TS Wagon (automatic), that is approaching 60,000
miles. I had the brakes checked today (Friday), and was told that both the
fronts and backs were down to 5 percent, and need to be done ASAP. I set
up an appointment for this to be done on Monday. This is at an independent
garage.

I am thiking of telling them not to turn the rotors if this is at all
possible. I have never had a good outcome from having rotors turned, and
have usually wound up having to buy new rotors anyway. They just get a
pulsation a short while after they are turned.

Does anyone have any opinions or experiences on this?

 

[Jonah]

I agree with not bothering to turn them. I've had similar poor experience with turning. You're lucky to get 30K miles
before you need to replace or turn them again. New rotors can be had for about $50 each and there's not much involved
in installing them yourself. I'd definitely spring for the new rotors.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I have a 2004 Impreza 2.5 TS Wagon (automatic), that is approaching 60,000
miles. I had the brakes checked today (Friday), and was told that both the
fronts and backs were down to 5 percent, and need to be done ASAP. I set
up an appointment for this to be done on Monday. This is at an independent
garage.

I am thiking of telling them not to turn the rotors if this is at all
possible. I have never had a good outcome from having rotors turned, and
have usually wound up having to buy new rotors anyway. They just get a
pulsation a short while after they are turned.

Does anyone have any opinions or experiences on this?

Any slight uneveness/waviness in the rotors the pads will wear into
after a few stops. Assuming you have no issues now with the rotors, just
put pads on. I had an '81 Civic wagon that I sold at 120K with original
rotors. It had MANY sets of pads as it was mostly surface street driven.

ymmv

Carl

 

[Ja]

I have a 2004 Impreza 2.5 TS Wagon (automatic), that is approaching 60,000
miles. I had the brakes checked today (Friday), and was told that both the
fronts and backs were down to 5 percent, and need to be done ASAP. I set
up an appointment for this to be done on Monday. This is at an independent
garage.

I am thiking of telling them not to turn the rotors if this is at all
possible. I have never had a good outcome from having rotors turned, and
have usually wound up having to buy new rotors anyway. They just get a
pulsation a short while after they are turned.

Does anyone have any opinions or experiences on this?

 

[Ja]

Turning rotors leaves you with a thinner cross section of material,
which distorts ( warps) more readily than the thicker original
equipment. I picked up a set of cross drilled rotors on Ebay ( made in
China ) excellent quality for about $10 each. I've got about 10k miles
on them now and they're smooth and function well. Installation was a
cakewalk, as I've done lots of brake jobs over the years and Subie's
design is excellent from a maintenance perspective. Recently did a VW
jetta and an Accord - what a pain in the Ass ! Subie's rule !

 

[Michael Pardee]

Turning rotors leaves you with a thinner cross section of material,
which distorts ( warps) more readily than the thicker original
equipment. I picked up a set of cross drilled rotors on Ebay ( made in
China ) excellent quality for about $10 each. I've got about 10k miles
on them now and they're smooth and function well. Installation was a
cakewalk, as I've done lots of brake jobs over the years and Subie's
design is excellent from a maintenance perspective. Recently did a VW
jetta and an Accord - what a pain in the Ass ! Subie's rule !

I recently had to replace the front disks in my daughter's '93 Accord (I
hadn't been watching the brakes closely enough). The drive axles have to
come 99% out (they don't have to be pulled out of the transaxle, just to
where they can be pulled out) to get the rotors out! Aargh!

Mike